More than 50 of the biggest names in sport, music, TV and radio will join some of the world’s greatest golfers at the stunning home of The European Tour, Wentworth Club in Surrey, on Wednesday May 20, when the star-studded BMW PGA Championship Celebrity Pro-Am swings into action, kick starting a five day festival of golf.
The stellar mix of celebrities and professional golfers attracts huge crowds to the BMW PGA Championship, as world famous stars from football, rugby, cricket, racing and showbiz tackle Wentworth’s iconic West Course alongside Major Champions, World Number Ones and Ryder Cup heroes.
This prestigious event is firmly established as the official curtain raiser to the BMW PGA Championship and today’s announcement of the teams for Wednesday’s Pro-Am has provided some classic line-ups.
Reigning BMW PGA Champion and World Number One Rory McIlroy will be joined by One Direction’s Niall Horan, as well as former Red Devils players Phil Neville and Paul Scholes – a dream team for lifelong Manchester United supporter, McIlroy. While fellow former ‘Reds’, Peter Schmeichel and Teddy Sheringham, will be partnering the BBC’s Football Focus presenter Dan Walker and former Open Champion, Paul Lawrie.
Former World Number One Lee Westwood will be guiding TV duo and recent Bafta winners, Ant and Dec around the West Course, along with their fellow Geordie and former Newcastle United striker, Alan Shearer. Meanwhile, Ryder Cup star Stephen Gallacher will lead an all-Scottish ‘Football Foursome’, as he is joined by three legends from north of the border: ‘King’ Kenny Dalglish, Graeme Souness and current manager of the Scotland national team, Gordon Strachan.
In-form US Open winner Justin Rose’s team is bursting with sporting talent, including Jamie Redknapp, Glenn Hoddle and, making his BMW PGA Pro-Am debut, cricketer Kevin Pietersen. While Rose’s Ryder Cup teammate Jamie Donaldson will be confident of tackling the West Course with England rugby captain Chris Robshaw, fellow England rugby international Ben Foden and broadcaster Rob Bonnet.
Radio 2 Breakfast Show host Chris Evans and sports presenter Vassos Alexander will lead the charge in the afternoon session, playing with Graeme McDowell and Luke Donald respectively along with the winners of the Children In Need auction prize.
Ex-footballer David Ginola joins forces with Victor Dubuisson to add some Gallic flair; Andriy Shevchenko makes up a four-ball with Italians Edoardo Molinari, Gianfranco Zola and Daniele Massaro; and Shane Lowry will be riding high alongside jockeys AP McCoy, Mick Fitzgerald and Carl Llewellyn.
Simon Khan and Darren Clarke can expect a speedy round as they partner F1 World Champions Damon Hill and Nigel Mansell respectively. Clarke and Mansell won’t need a bail out shot either, with Knights of the Realm Sir Steve Redgrave and Sir Matthew Pinsent in their team.
Meanwhile, spectators can expect some big hitting from Danny Willett’s team, as the Englishman teams up with three cricket legends in Sir Ian Botham, Allan Lamb and Shane Warne. Olympic curling medallist Eve Muirhead, a single figure golfer, will be hoping to sweep aside the opposition with American partner Brooks Koepka, while Pablo Larrazábal and Simon Khan can expect smashing rounds with partners Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski respectively.
David Howell and Jodie Kidd’s team will no doubt be pitch perfect with Keane lead singer Tom Chaplin and Foreigner’s Rick Wills in their four-ball. And the teams aren’t just playing for pride - one of several fundraising initiatives on the day includes a ‘hit the green’ competition, helping to raise funds for the tournament’s Official Charity, Teenage Cancer Trust.
The full line-up of professional / celebrity teams is as follows*:
Morning Session - Shotgun start, teeing off at 08.00hrs:
Professional Celebrity/Amateur
Rory McIlroy Niall Horan, Phil Neville, Paul Scholes
Martin Kaymer Richard Hughes, Rory Lawson, Nick Easter
Padraig Harrington Mike Tindall, Keith Wood, Andy Nicol
Darren Clarke Nigel Mansell, Sir Matthew Pinsent, Sir Steve Redgrave
David Howell Jodie Kidd, Tom Chaplin, Rick Wills
Paul Lawrie Peter Schmeichel, Teddy Sheringham, Dan Walker
Ross Fisher Jeremy Kyle, Mark Austin, John Francome
Stephen Gallacher Kenny Dalglish, Graeme Souness, Gordon Strachan
Pablo Larrazabal Tim Henman, John Inverdale
Simon Khan Damon Hill, Matt Le Tissier, Greg Rusedski
Shane Lowry AP McCoy, Mick Fitzgerald, Carl Llewellyn
Paul McGinley Darren Anderton
Afternoon Session - Shotgun Start, teeing off at 13.00hrs:
Professional Celebrity/Amateur
Lee Westwood Ant McPartlin, Dec Donnelly, Alan Shearer
Justin Rose Jamie Redknapp, Glenn Hoddle, Kevin Pietersen
Marc Warren Ian Wright, Jay Tabb, Ady Williams
Jamie Donaldson Chris Robshaw, Ben Foden, Rob Bonnet
Edoardo Molinari Gianfranco Zola, Andriy Shevchenko, Daniele Massaro
Francesco Molinari Anton Du Beke
Danny Willett Sir Ian Botham, Allan Lamb, Shane Warne
Tommy Fleetwood Tiff Needell, Chris Hollins, Derek Warwick
Brooks Koepka Eve Muirhead
Victor Dubuisson David Ginola
Branden Grace Brian Lara, Joey Barton, Rishi Persad
Thorbjörn Olesen Jamie Roberts
Luke Donald Vassos Alexander
Graeme McDowell Chris Evans
* Subject to change. Only Professionals playing with celebrities are listed
The first group of teams will get under way at 08.00 on Wednesday morning, with a shotgun start around the West Course. The afternoon session will commence at 13.00. The Pro-Am will once again feature the “Use Your Pro” ruling, giving amateur players the opportunity to call on their professional team-mate to play them out of trouble. Each amateur is entitled to “Use Your Pro” once in the round and call on their Pro whenever they want; whether it be in an emergency, as a result of a wayward shot, or tactically, to get it up on the green on some of the longer, trickier, Par Threes.
Tickets for all six days of the BMW PGA Championship, running from May 19-24, are available to purchase on the gate. Children under 16 will be admitted free of charge if accompanied by an adult ticket holder.
BMW Owners and official badge holders will be able to park onsite, as in previous years. All other spectators will be directed to the nearest Park and Ride location.
